Marching on together

2011, week one: •Monday – Sepp plans a new Fifa "anti-corruption unit" in response to Swiss government threats to intervene. "This unit will strengthen our credibility, give us a new image of transparency and ensure there is no corruption at Fifa. I will take care of it personally." •Friday – Sepp reacts to "unease" from Fifa's executive committee: "This story is absolutely untrue: there will be no 'new unit'. There's no need. There is no corruption at Fifa."

• Also new from Sepp last week: unruffled reply to questions about the IOC's inquiry into allegations against Fifa vice-president Issa Hayatou, also an IOC member. "The IOC? It is like a club of princes, princesses and kings. They have no transparency! Our accounts are open, theirs are not. They manage their money like a housewife ..."

Meanwhile

New year highlights from the football family:

•Julio Grondona, Sepp's vice-president and head of Argentina's FA denies threatening a referee who alleged "systemic corruption" in Argentina. Javier Ruiz: "I pointed out how whole championships are being rigged for cash. Grondona told me: 'Pal, watch out for your family.'" Grondona: "I hardly know Ruiz. I only met him once or twice. Nothing can be proven."

• Peru FA head Manuel Burga – successfully denying corruption allegations since 2006 – winning a third term after "modifying" the election rules. Burga, whose acceptance speech was interrupted by a colleague's mobile phone ringing with the theme music from The Godfather, says public protests against him are "laughable... it all just comes with the territory".

• Plus Indonesia FA chairman Nurdin Halid – jailed in 2008 for an $18m fraud but now back in the job – unmoved by public demands to relinquish control. Halid told the press he will stay in the role to protect his main interest: the "dignity and democracy of Indonesian soccer".

Clear signals

Disciplinary news: Gigi Becali given a "formal warning" by a Romanian government agency for cancelling a transfer last year because he thought the player was gay ("I'd rather dissolve the club than allow a gay to join Steaua"). The agency said their warning "sent a clear signal". (Gigi's previous: 2006 – backs a campaign to "finish off all homosexuals in the country"; 2007 – says "gays must be kept in enclosures".)

•16 Dec: Stockport statement on Paul Simpson. "We realise that the club's current position is far from ideal and... we are expecting results to improve. That said, chairman Alwin Thompson reaffirms that Paul has the full support of the board."

•15 Nov: Maurice Lindsay, Preston chairman: "We're in trouble. Darren [Ferguson] knows it and I know it, but you have to work your way out of these things. We can't just snap our fingers or wave a magic wand. We're working as hard as we can, with Darren. We'll get it right."

•December: Ipswich chief executive Simon Clegg: "The owner and I are absolutely joined at the hip about Roy Keane .... There is no axe hanging over our manager."

Club lovers

• 2009: Demba Ba says sorry to Hoffenheim for trying to force a transfer. "I behaved so wrongly. I realise now what Hoffenheim means to me and how much I owe the fans. I will work hard to regain their trust." 2010: Hoffenheim reject a bid from West Ham; Ba goes on strike. "But I'm not a capricious guy."

•December: Adrian Mutu, Fiorentina: "I dedicate this goal to my coach, Sinisa Mihajlovic, who defended me when others would not, and to the fans who backed me during my [9 month] ban." Mihajlovic said: "He knows how much we have done for him, and he's just eager to repay us. He's a great person." January: Fiorentina block Mutu's transfer to Cesena; Mutu goes on strike. Mihajlovic: "It's just unbelievable."

And finally

Model Larissa Riquelme on her plans for 2011: "Last year I became loved worldwide through football, but mostly because of my own hard work. This year I will add more silicon! My breasts are my friends: they accompany me wherever I go."